Sendmode

Frequently Asked Questions

If your question is not answered by our Frequently Asked Questions below on Mobile Marketing or Text Message Marketing, please feel free to call us on the numbers above or email us directly at [email protected].

Click on the categories below to expand related questions:

Prices and Purchasing

How can I buy credits?

You may purchase credit bundles up to 100,000 using your credit card. We use SagePay as our primary e-commerce engine. For larger volumes you can contact us directly at [email protected].

How much does it cost to send an SMS?

The cost really depends on how many credits you want to buy, our credit bundles are on a sliding scale so the more purchased, the lower the cost. We guarantee we will the lowest cost messaging solution no matter which credit bundle you wish to purchase. More information on our credit bundles can be found on our pricing page.

Will my credits expire?

No, your credits will never expire on active accounts. An active account is one which has sent SMS in the last 6 months.

How much does it cost to send an SMS to a UK number from an Irish account?

Messages sent to UK mobile numbers from an Irish account cost 1 credits each. So, if you were to send an SMS to 100 UK numbers from an Irish account on Sendmode will cost you 100 credits.

What about after sales Support?

Not only do we want to provide the lowest cost solution but we also want to provide the best service in the mobile industry. It drives us mad when we cannot get through to a person to deal with issues (especially industry IVR machines and Ticketing systems), so we make sure you can always reach us. All our customers have email, office and mobile numbers of our staff both on sales and technical sides. We also believe that as we are an online company, we should be online all the time. Our customers can contact us at any time day or night and we will respond.

I’m trying to purchase credits but the ‘Purchase Credits’ icon is greyed out. What shall I do?

All accounts are verified by our team for activation to avoid credit card fraud. If you experience a delay outside office hours please contact us directly here.

Do your prices exclude VAT?

Yes, all prices on the website exclude VAT.

Account Setup

Do you have a contract or minimum commitment with Sendmode?

There are no contracts with Sendmode – it all works on a pay as you go basis.

Do I need to download software to my PC?

No, our system is a stand-alone website so you do not need to download anything. All you need is a phone, PC, laptop or tablet that has internet connectivity.

How long does it take to set up?

Everything can be set up in a matter of minutes. All accounts are verified by our team for activation to avoid credit card fraud. If you experience a delay with your account set up please contact us directly here.

How do I import data into my Sendmode account?

You can import mobile numbers from an excel sheet (.xls , .xlsx), along with names etc. You can also enter your numbers individually. We have a Quick Import feature whereby you can simply cut & paste mobile numbers only.

Why do numbers look like 3.53871E+11 when I export to Excel?

This is because Excel thinks your mobile number is a long number so has converted it. To change these to your mobile numbers highlight the whole column, right click, choose Format Cells, click on Number in the Category and change the amount of Decimal places to Zero and then OK.

Why won’t my excel sheet import?

It may be that your excel sheet is in the incorrect format. To view the correct format, visit the ‘Import Mobile Numbers’ page within your account. Alternatively contact Sendmode and we will assist you or you can send your spreadsheet to us and we can upload it for you.

I can’t login?

Make sure the login web address corresponds with your location. Irish and UK customers login in at app.sendmode.com. South African customers login at app.sendmode.za.

How secure is my data?

Sendmode will never share or pass on any of your data, including mobile numbers or email addresses you upload. Your data will only be used for your SMS marketing purposes. Our privacy policy is available here.

Sending Messages

How many characters are in an SMS message?

One SMS credit will use up 160 characters, 161 – 299 characters will use 2 credits and 300 – 440 characters will use 3 credits. When typing your message you will be able to see how many characters and credits you have used.

How do I know if a message has been sent?

In the reports section of Sendmode it will show if a message has been Delivered, Undelivered, Dispatched or Expired.

Can I spilt my database into groups?

Yes, you can divide your database into as many groups as you require.

Can I schedule messages to be sent at a later date?

Yes you can. Once you have created your message you can select a time and date for this to be sent.

How do I send an image by SMS?

You need to attach the image into your message and we’ll convert it into a clickable link in the body of your SMS text message. Follow these step by step instructions.

SenderID and Mobile Keywords

Can the sender name be the Business Name?

Yes, you can use up to 11 alphabetic characters as the sender name. You may use the sender name as your business name or your campaign name and you may create as many as you want in your Sendmode account. You may also use a mobile number as your sender name which allows customers to respond directly to your handset or even back into your mobile account.

Why can’t I receive replies when using a sender name?

By using a sender name you are overriding the number the message comes from. This means that the receiving phone cannot tell where the message has originated in order to send a reply.

Can we set up a keyword or short code and have a revenue stream from it?

No, we don’t offer Premium Rate services.

How can people opt-out of my text message promotions?

People can opt out of your text marketing by texting your keyword followed by the word STOP to your short code 88990. When one of your customers opts out of your SMS marketing, their phone number will be automatically removed from all your contact lists and added to your opt-out list. Our system will block any messages being sent to this number from your account. If you try to import the number into your database of customers again our system will recognize this and NOT import it.

API

What is an API?

An API allows the automatic sending of text messages from your own platform.

How long does it take to set up?

Full integration can be completed within 2-3 hours. See our SMS Gateway page to see example documentation.

How much does it cost to use the API?

The API is FREE to use. You just need to pay for the credits to send the messages.

GDPR

Is Sendmode GDPR Compliant?

Yes we are fully compliant. Please click on GDPR Compliance at Sendmode page in the menu above for more information.

Will Sendmode advise us on GDPR Compliant Bulk Text Marketing?

We have a section of our blog dedicated to GDPR. Answering the real questions business owners have about GDPR.

We are hosting a webinar on April 11th. We’ll speak about what to do with your current lists and how to ensure you are GDPR compliant after May 25th. If you would like an invite to the webinar please email [email protected]

We have added a number of controls to importing and sending texts to ensure you are compliant.

You can record consent in the Notes field of each customers record. We’ll store this should you need it in the future. This blog explains how Sendmode will help you record consent: Recording Consent with Sendmode